April 28, 2022 by Cassandra Johnson
We headed to the beach. I was surprised we were so close (within walking distance) but totally expecting it from the travel literature I had seen in and around Pisco, Paracas and the surrounding area.
The boardwalk was damaged in a lot of places and definitely indicative that we were living in two spaces of natural disaster damages and natural beauty.
I walked gingerly with Sana as the rest of our companions (4 or so other volunteers) strolled along beside us and sometimes wandered ahead or fell behind. Local people were laughing, enjoying the sun, swinging their feet off the pier, enjoying wide open spaces. Life was free. I accidentally left my sandals on the boardwalk above us as Sana helped me climb down and the strangers above smilingly shook their heads that, no they were not going to hand them down at Sana’s request. We all giggled. They tossed them gently down and I continued holding them as Sana and I wandered along the sand.
I knew this city (at times also considered much like a town) was not well off and I was honored to be a part of the rebuilding. I was pleased to relax a little and additionally it was not lost on me at all how savory Peruvian food could be. Perhaps that is one of the misplaced reasons I mistakenly fell for Sana a little too quickly with overwhelmed senses and sentiments over dinner with him and my friend. Perhaps but no regrets, either. Only more chapters and sobering lessons learned, and I still recall that one of my first delicious meals in Pisco was with him and her.
These were my first few days in South America. Life happened so fast after a childhood of dreaming of travels. I could barely believe all that would transpire in one day, each day, between hanging out, volunteer projects, amazing food, and of course from time to time, getting ill. Lucky for the moment I did not get ill right away after my first few weeks, but Nasa was local and did have some ways of shielding me.
Romance? Deceptions. Both false and true in my travels that followed. Momentarily, the results were yet to be seen but it was fun being friends with him and knowing him for the time being. I never regret meeting him along the way with so many other true friends plus romances and/or escapades to come. Everything in due time and in good spirit and lessons learned. Celebration and anger existed on the same surfaces and with the full range of emotions, we have to look around everyday and be pleased we are human enough to feel everything and appreciate the healthiness of accepting it all.